The pillars of creation

Jennsen felt as if she were in a knife fight-trying to protect herself from this woman's razor-sharp verbal blade. "It's not just prophecy-he's a wizard. He's gifted. I don't know if he's interested in harming Lord Rahl-maybe he's not-but I don't want to risk Lord Rahl's life to find out. I know enough about magic to know I don't like messing around with things of magic that are beyond me. I have to put Lord Rahl's life first. I'm not saying that I believe Nathan Rahl is bent on harm, I'm just saying that it's my job to protect Lord Rahl and I don't want to take the chance with such magic, magic I can't ward."

The woman shouldered open the door at the end of the foot bridge. "I can't argue that. I don't like anything to do with magic. But if Lord Rahl is in danger from this prophet of a wizard, maybe you had better stay here so we can look into it."

"I don't know if Nathan Rahl represents a threat, but I have pressing business that I know for certain is a grave danger to Lord Rahl. My responsibility is to tend to that."

Nyda tried a door but found it locked. She continued on down the dingy hallway. "But if your suspicions about Nathan Rahl are correct, then we must-"

"Nyda, I'm hoping you can keep your eye on this Nathan Rahl for me. I can't do it all myself. Watch him for me?"

"Do you wish me to kill him?"

"No." Jennsen was surprised at how ready the Mord-Sith seemed to be to commit to such an act. "Of course not. I'm just saying to pay attention, keep an eye on him, that's all."

Nyda reached another door. This time the lever lifted. Before she opened it, she turned back to the two of them. Jennsen didn't like the look in her eyes as her gaze shifted between them.

"This is all crazy," Nyda said. "Too much of it makes no sense. Too many things don't fit. I don't like it when things don't make sense."

This was a dangerous creature who could at any moment turn on them.

Jennsen had to find a way to close the subject for good. She remembered what Captain Lerner had said, how filled with conviction he had been, and spoke the words softly to Nyda.

"The new Lord Rahl has changed everything, all the rules-he's turned the whole world upside down."

Nyda finally let out a deep breath. A wistful smile came to her lips.

"Yes, he has," she said in a soft voice. "Wonder of wonders. That's why I would lay down my life to protect him, why I worry so."

"Me too. I need to do my job."

Nyda turned away and led them to a dark spiral of stairs tunneling down through the rock. Jennsen knew that the tale she was spinning wasn't entirely convincing. She was perplexed that it worked anyway.

A long journey down seemingly endless stairs and along dark corridors, occasionally cutting through passageways crowded with soldiers, took them ever lower in the plateau below the People's Palace. Sebastian's hand on her back for much of the journey was a reassuring comfort, and a relief. Jennsen could hardly believe that she had managed to get him free. Soon, they would be out of the palace and safely away.

Somewhere within the interior of the plateau, they emerged into the central public area. Nyda had taken them down a more direct route and saved them time. Jennsen preferred staying within the hidden passageways, but, apparently, those shortcuts ended at this place within the common area. They would have to finish their descent among the crowds.

Small stands selling food lined the way along the route as throngs of people shuffled past on their long ascent to the palace above. Jennsen recalled passing the vendors opposite the stone balusters overlooking the level below on her first visit to the palace. The smells, after the dusty places they had been, were temptation almost beyond endurance.

Soldiers patrolling nearby noticed them on their way down, moving against the crowds. Like all the soldiers she had seen in the palace, these were big men, muscular, fit, eyes alert. In their leather and chain mail, weapons hanging from their belts, they were an intimidating sight. As soon as they realized that Nyda was escorting them, the soldiers turned their scrutiny to other people.

When Jennsen saw Sebastian pull up his hood, she realized it would be a good idea to hide her hair and followed suit. The air inside the plateau was frosty and a number of people had their heads covered with hoods or hats, so it wouldn't raise suspicions.

As they reached the far end of a long landing in the lower reaches inside the plateau, just as they turned to descend the next flight of stairs, Jennsen looked up. At the opposite end of the landing, a tall older man with a full head of straight white hair hanging to his broad shoulders was just coming down off the stairs. Even though he was old, he was still a strikingly handsome man. Despite his age, he moved with vigor.

He looked up. His gaze met Jennsen's.

The world seemed to stop in the man's dark azure eyes.

Jennsen froze. There was something about him that looked vaguely familiar, something in those eyes that seized her attention.